Zoned liquid golfing target



Nov. 26, 1968 R. A. STEARNS ZONED LIQUID GOLI F ING TARGET Filed July14, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 uwewroe RICHARD A. smR/vs BY I 26, 1968 R. A.STEARNS ZONED LIQUID GOLFING TARGET 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 14, 1966INVENTOR mom/2o A. STEARNS -5 BY ATTORNEZS United States Patent3,413,005 ZONED LIQUID GOLFING TARGET Richard A. Stearns, 8720 GatesheadRoad, Alexandria, Va. 22309 Filed July 14, 1966, Ser. No. 565,304 8Claims. c1. 273-176) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A liquid golf targetsimulating a conventional golf green and including a liquid containingreceptacle associated with scoring means for indicating the proximity ofa golf shot to the fiag or pin position on the green.

Although some golf practice ranges in present use provide conventionalgreens as targets for a number of players driving, pitching or chippingfrom a tee area, the many disadvantages inherent in such practice rangeshave precluded their widespread acceptance. Among the disadvantages ofthis type practice range from the standpoint of the range operator arethe substantial cost of constructing and maintaining a conventionalgreen, the necessity of periodically stopping play, accompanied by anobvious loss of income, to clear the green area of golf balls and thenecessity for maintaining additional employees to perform thesefunctions.

Although the use of conventional greens on practice ranges do provide atarget area so that players may gauge the accuracy as well as thedistance of their shots, they fall far short of providing playersatisfaction equivalent to that present on a regulation golf coursewhere a player is approaching a green which is relatively clear of otherballs and where, by walking up to the green, the player may ascertainthe precise lie of his ball relative to the pin.

The high cost of maintaining conventional practice greens and playerdissatisfaction with shooting onto a green covered with golf balls whichmakes its virtually impossible to gauge the accuracy of a shot from thetee area has contributed greatly to the widespread usage of drivingranges which merely allow one to estimate the distance of a drive.

The primary purpose of the invention is to provide a liquid golf target,simulating a conventional green, for use in a full shot golf game whichovercomes the foregoing disadvantages and provides the stimulus of ahighly competitive game rather than a mere practice device.

Essentially the invention involves the substitution of a liquid filledreceptacle for a conventional practice green, in which a plurality ofsensing means are positioned below the liquid surface to activate ascoring device which will apprise a player of the precise lie of hisball relative to the pin. Additionally, the sensing means employed aresensitive to a particular type of golf ball and insensitive to anothertype ball thus permitting selective recording of desired ones of aplurality of golf balls driven onto the liquid green for a purpose whichwill subsequently become apparent.

One of the purposes in using a liquid green is to provide a golf targethaving characteristics approaching those of a conventional green. Thus,a fast rolling shot approaching the liquid green will continue to skimacross the liquid surface in a manner analogous to a conventional green.Similarly, a golf ball approaching the liquid green at a low trajectorywill have a tendency to skip across the surface while one approaching ata high trajectory will have more of a tendency to sink immediately,somewhat after the manner of a ball stopping quickly on a conventionalgreen under the influence of back spin. Utilizing these knowncharacteristics of a projectile approaching a liquid surface, it becomespossible to gauge a golf shot ice to approach a pin positioned on theliquid green in a manner analogous to a conventional green. As soon asthe balls kinetic energy is dissipated sufficiently, the ball sinksbelow the liquid surface leaving a clear green.

Liquid greens, themselves, are not new having been suggested in US.Patents 2,455,806 and 2,482,210. These prior art devices merely relyupon the splash of a ball striking the liquid to indicate the accuracyof a shot and make no provision for taking advantage of the ability of aliquid surface to support a ball for movement thereacross or inindicating differing degrees of proximity to the pin. Thus, in the priorart games involving liquid greens, a splash within the pool whether itbe at the edge of the green or at the pin, provides the same splashsignal which two relative splash positions would normally beindistinguishable from the tee area. Additionally, even if the relativepositions of the splashes could be accurately judged, such a device hasrelatively little value in competitive golf for it gives no indicationof where the ball will ultimately come to lie. A low flying or rollingball may well strike the liquid, give a splash signal, and skip or skimacross the surface to continue far beyond the green while a ball makinga rolling approach to the green may stop just short of the green but liemuch closer to the pin than a ball which splashed and continued onacross the green.

The present invention overcomes these deficiencies in known liquidgreens and makes possible a competitive full shot golf game which may beaccurately scored on the basis of where the ball ultimately comes to liein the green area.

The attainment of the foregoing and other advantages are made possibleby this invention which provides a plurality of bones beneath thesurface of a liquid green at varying distances from the pin which zoneshave sensing means associated therewith to activate a scoring device.The Zones and sensing means are so constructed that no score isregistered until the ball has come to rest, or becomes trapped due tothe dissipation of its kinetic energy in the direction of flight, Withina particular zone.

The invention further provides a sensing means for the liquid green thatwill be selective to only one type of golf ball while permitting otherballs to pass through the zones without activating the scoring device.This is particularly advantageous where the game :made possible by thisinvention is to be laid out on a conventional driving range since itwill permit simultaneous usage of the driving range.

Additional objects and advantages will become apparent from the ensuingdescription taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a golf driving area including liquid greens;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the double deck tee line;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG. 1, with the pro shopshown in elevation;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of a liquid green;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 66 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of a golf ball having a rubber center;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of a golf ball having a steel center;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuitry involved inthe sensing and scoring mechanism; and

FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the lower portion ofa catch basket.

An aqua golf course combined with a conventional driving range andpractice putting green is illustrated generally at 10. A double deck teeline including upper and lower decks 12, 14 faces the range area 16. Aplurality of liquid greens 18, in this instance nine, having flags orpins supported thereon are variously positioned over range area 16. Nineindividual tee areas 22 are spaced along upper deck 12 forming the teeline for playing aqua golf simultaneously with the use of range area 16as a conventional driving range by players teeing from tee positionsalong lower deck 14. Range markers for use in connection with the lowertee line are indicated at 24.

Each liquid green 18 includes an open topped liquid receptacle 26 havingbottom and side walls 28 and 3t). Receptacles 26 are filled with aliquid 32, such as water, to which has been added a bluish-green or aquadye so that the color of the liquid surface will more nearly resemble aconventional green. Receptacles 2.6 are adapted to be positioned withinexcavations in range area 16 so that the uppermost edges of side walls3%) lie generally in a horizontal plane and are substantially flush withthe surrounding range surface. Bottom wall 28 of each receptacle 26 isinclined downwardly to merge, at its lowermost portion, with a depressedball retrieval area 34.

An intermediate wall in receptacle 26 is formed by a plurality of catchbaskets or compartments 36 having sloping surfaces 38, merging at theirlowermost portions with ball outlet openings 40, defining ball receivingpockets or zones 42. Catch baskets 36 are supported above bottom wall 28by vertical supports 44. Supports 44 which are spaced from side walls 38have relatively large openings 46 in their lower portions to permit golfballs to gravitate past supports 44 toward ball retrieval area 34.Adjacent catch baskets 36 are joined by the intersections of theiradjacent upwardly convergent sloping surfaces 38, as along transitionsurfaces 48. Transition surfaces 48 define zonal separations betweenzones or pockets 42 which are incapable of stably supporting a golf ballto insure that any ball which sinks below the liquids surface will findits way into one of the catch baskets and gravitate to a ball outletopening. Similarly, sloping surfaces 38 adjacent the sides ofreceptacles 26 are downwardly and inwardly inclined from the side walls.

One of the catch baskets in each liquid green is provided with oneadditional ball outlet opening 50 in one of its sloping surfaces 38which may be substantially smaller than openings 40. The catch basketimmediately overlying ball retrieval area 34 may be provided with ahinged door 52 permitting access to the ball retrieval area.

Each ball outlet opening 40 receives a generally funnel shaped plasticcup member 54 whose flaring sides 56 are received in small depressions58 in sloping surfaces 38 to provide a smooth continuation of thesloping surfaces to open ended cylindrical portion 60 of plastic member54. Ball outlet opening 50 is similarly fitted with a plastic member 62having a cylindrical portion 64 whose internal diameter is equal to thatof a regulation golf cup. Flag 20 has its flagstafi supportedimmediately adjacent ball outlet opening 50 in any desired manner, suchas by a cup shaped element 66 provided on the flaring portion of plasticmember 62.

All of the cylindrical portions 60 and 64 are surrounded by sensingmeans in the form of coils 68 connected in circuit with a suitablevoltage source, switch means 70, amplifier 72 an annunciator orscoreboard 74, all of con- .ventional construction as illustratedschematically in FIG.

9. A scoreboard 74 for each of the liquid greens may be convenientlylocated on upper tee line 12 or adjacent the liquid green as desired.

With continued reference to FIG. 9, it will be apparent that when switch70 is closed each of the sensing coils 68 is continuously connected withan individual one of the scoreboard indicators 76. Passage of a golfball 78 having a steel center 80, such as shown in FIG. 8, through aplastic member 54 or 62 will modify the field established by therespective coil 68 to produce a pulse which is amplified to energize anappropriate one of the indicators 76.

Inasmuch as aqua golf will normally be played simultaneously with theuse of range area 16 as a conventional driving range it is apparent thatthose golf balls driven into the liquid greens by persons not playingaqua golf must not be permitted to activate the sensing and scoringdevices. For this purpose, those players using range area 16 as adriving range are provided with rubber centered golf balls, such asshown in FIG. 7, which produce no modification in the field establishedby coil 68 upon passage through plastic members 54, 62.

Although any desired system of scoring and rules of play may beestablished for aqua golf, the liquid green 18 herein illustratedincludes four catch baskets 36 whose respective sensing coils areconnected to indicators bearing the numeral 3 on scoreboard 74 whichindicates a par for the particular hole being played. Sensing coil 68associated with plastic member 54 in the catch basket supporting flag 20is connected to the indicator bearing numeral 2 on the scoreboard toindicate a birdie and coil 68 associated with plastic member 62 isconnected to score a hole-in-one. Failure to activate any of the sensingmeans results in a bogie for the hole being played. A player may hit oneball from each of the tees 22 to the respective liquid green toconstitute a round of nine holes or two balls may be hit to each greenfor an eighteen hole round.

Although only four sensing coils and indicators have been shownschematically in FIG. 9 to correspond to those shown in FIG. 5, it willbe apparent that there will be one sensing coil associated with thelowermost ball outlet opening in each catch basket and one additionalcoil associated with the ball outlet opening 50 which corresponds to ahole-in-one.

As will be apparent from the foregoing, a golf ball whose kinetic energyin the direction of flight is dissipated Within the confines ofreceptacle 26 will sink below the liquid surface. Due to the fact thatthe transition surfaces between the sloping surfaces of adjacent catchbaskets are incapable of stably supporting a golf ball, the ball whichhas sunk below the liquid surface will gravitate to one of the balloutlet openings and pass therethrough within the field established bythe respective coil 68. Passage of a golf ball containing structuralcomponents which will modify the field established by a coil 68, such asthe steel centered ball shown in FIG. 8, through a ball outlet openingwill activate an appropriate one of scoring indicators 76 to apprise theplayer of his score for the hole which he may then record on a standardgolf score card. In the event that the ball does not come to rest in theliquid green, the scoreboard will not be activated and the playerrecords a bogie 4 on his score card. At the conclusion of a round ofnine or eighteen holes, the score cards are tallied to determine thewinner as in a conventional golf game.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the liquid golf target ofthis invention makes possible the playing of a highly competitive golfgame which makes use of existing driving range facilities, involves aminimum of upkeep and provides a clear green at all times.

I claim:

1. A golf target simulating a golfing green comprising, an open toppedreceptacle, a plurality of separate compartments within said receptaclewithin which a golf ball may land, liquid means within each of saidcompartments for absorbing impact energy of a golf ball landing in saidtarget after being struck by a golfer, means for sensing the movement ofa golf ball through the liquid means in each of said compartments, andmeans responsive to said sensing means for indicating to a. golferremote from said target the compartment within which the impact energyof a golf ball has become dissipated.

2. A golf target as defined in claim 1 wherein said compartments aresubmerged in the liquid means contained in said receptacle.

3. A golf target as defined in claim 1 wherein said compartments includeball outlet openings at their lowermost portions.

4. A golf target as defined in claim 3 wherein said sensing meansinclude electrically conductive coils connected in circuit with avoltage source and said indicating means.

5. A golf target as defined in claim 1 wherein said sensing means arecontained within said receptacle and include means for sensing saidmovement of said golf ball only if said golf ball contains metal.

6. A golf target simulating a golfing green comprising, an open toppedliquid containing receptacle including a bottom wall, a generallyhorizontally disposed intermediate wall supported within said receptacleintermediate said bottom wall and the liquid level in said receptacle,said intermediate wall including a plurality of pockets defined byinclined surfaces merging with ball outlet openings at their lowermostportions and with the inclined surfaces of adjacent pockets at theiruppermost portions along transition surfaces incapable of stablysupporting a golf ball, means adjacent each of said openings for sensingthe passage of a golf ball therethrough, and indicating means responsiveto each of said sensing means for indicating to a golfer remote fromsaid receptacle the passage of a golf ball through one of said balloutlet openings.

A golf target as defined in claim 6 including electrically insulatedsleeve portions extending downwardly from each of said ball outletopenings, said sensing means including an electrically conductive coilsurrounding each of said sleeve portions and connected in circuit with avoltage source and said indicating means.

8. A golf target as defined in claim 6 wherein one of said pocketsincludes a second ball outlet opening formed in the inclined surfacethereof above the level of said first mentioned ball outlet openings,means adjacent said second opening for sensing the passage of a golfball therethrough, means responsive to said last named means forindicating to a golfer remote from said receptacle the passage of a golfball through said second opening.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 523,510 7/1894 Brunswig 731671,862,093 6/1932 Murray 273176 2,506,475 5/1950 Traub 273102.2 3,000,6369/1961 Butler 273102.2 X 3,310,310 3/1967 McKee 273176 3,314,679 4/1967Kolln 273182 ANTON O. OECI-ISLE, Primary Examiner. GEORGE J. MARLO,Assistant Examiner.

